If you achieve musical stardom after many long years of trying, your earliest attempts can fade away into obscurity, especially if you first recorded under a different name. Of course, those early attempts can still pop up anytime, just like — well, lightly browned slices of bread.

In 1983, Paul Young’s debut solo album in the UK reached #1, went quadruple platinum, and spawned three Top 5 hits, including one that topped the charts (“Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home)”). He seemed like an overnight sensation, appearing from out of nowhere, especially since his previous band, Q-Tips, although a popular opening act, had poor album sales and couldn’t score a hit despite numerous single releases. Most people probably had no clue who fronted that band.

They likely had even less of a clue that prior to Q-Tips, Young fronted another band who actually scored a minor hit in the UK. Even if you played that minor hit for someone in 1983, however, they certainly wouldn’t identify the voice as that of Paul Young.

Why? Well, it wasn’t exactly your run of the mill song.

Streetband formed in London in 1977 and, like the hundreds of other bands who formed during the punk explosion that year, found it necessary to grab gigs where they could, like in small pubs and clubs. Unfortunately, when the group picked up their instruments and actually started to play, patrons would often hit the bar and turn their backs to the stage, so Streetband developed an improvisatory number to get the punters to turn their heads back around. The song could last for as long as they wanted so it was also useful if the guitarist needed to change a string, or someone needed to make a phone call, or run out for groceries. They called the song “Toast.”

In the studio to record their first single, the band found they had some extra time and needed to record a B-side anyway, and someone suggested “Toast.” In classic B-side tradition, they wanted a throwaway so DJs would focus on the A-side. And in classic B-side tradition, the DJs flipped it and “Toast” received heavy airplay upon its release in 1978, not only due to the novelty, but also because there happened to be a baker’s strike at the time.

“Toast” popped up again in 1993 in a UK advert for honey, although it’s doubtful anyone’s first thought upon hearing it was “Hey, that’s Paul Young.” No slick and sophisticated blue-eyed soul here. Anyway, let’s find something to butter.